No description.

There is something about love that just can't be put into words. Like a gorgeous sunset or the smile of a young child, it takes your breath away. Love is characterized by moments of wonder. We reinforce this feeling when we are mindful of surprises, awe-inspiring sights and situations, and other daily wonders of our lives.

Keep a "Moments of Wonder Journal." Every evening, think back over your day, paying special attention to the experiences that engaged your senses—smells, textures, tastes, sounds, and sights. Make a list of those marvels that made you want to respond, "Ahhh!" Set up a Wonder Table in your home.

Concentrate each day of the week on a different sense. Monday, smell; Tuesday, touch; Wednesday, taste; Thursday, seeing; Friday, hearing; and Saturday, synesthesia (the interplay of the senses). Notice what each sense is drawn to—what it loves. Try to expose your senses to new sensations. Set out a variety of herbs and practice identifying them by smell alone. Collect beads and stones and compare their surface textures. Assemble a platter of as many tastes as possible: salty, sweet, bitter, bland, etc. Look for odd color combinations in magazines and picture books. Find as many different styles of music as you can in your CD collection, or scan the stations on your radio noticing types of music, modulations of voices, and more.

In what ways do you cultivate a sense of wonder in your life?

This practice was developed for the Fetzer Institute by Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat, directors of Spirituality & Practice.